Mandinka Sound
Madinka Sound
QLD, WA & NT are in for a great African music treat in Aug/Sept with Mandinka Sound, featuring One Africa (King Marong & Lamine Sonko) and Muhanamwé on tour. The concerts, organised by Kultour, trace the roots of West African music back to the ancient Mandinka empire. The tour also includes high-energy drumming, song and dance workshops for all ages at selected venues. see What’s on Page of AfricanOz for tour time and dates.
The show begins with a warm and intimate acoustic set from One Africa which brings together two of Melbourne’s most loved West African performers, King Marong and Lamine Sonko. A subtle fusion of traditional West African culture and contemporary Australian influences, One Africa creates a hypnotically soulful repertoire of original songs. Providing the rhythm and groove, King Marong has built a reputation as a master of many African drumming styles and instruments. Providing vocals and guitar, Lamine hails from a famous Senegalese griot musical family and has performed internationally alongside such greats as Youssou Ndour and Fatou Nguewel Diouf.
Muhanamwé then take the stage with an electrifying set of traditional Guinean music and dance. Muhanamwé, meaning culture, has emerged from the dense and vibrant undergrowth of Melbourne’s world music scene as one of the freshest and most exciting West African percussion and dance ensembles. With compelling rhythms, raw vocal harmonies, rippling balafon melodies, stunning costumes and superhuman dance moves, Muhanamwé not only draws from its deep roots in West Africa but also updates and brings new life to an ancient musical and cultural tradition.
2010 Mandinka Sound tour itinerary:
(shows have already been held in VIC, NSW)
QLD August Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre / Mount Isa Civic Centre / Cairns Civic Centre / Judith Wright Centre / The Events Centre Caloundra / Logan /BEMAC, Brisbane / Toowoomba
NT August Darwin Amphitheatre & Festival / St Paul’s Anglican Church, Katherine / Binjari & Kalano Aboriginal Community, Katherine/ Civic Hall (Desert Harmony Festival), Tennant Creek / Winanjikari Music Centre Tennant Creek
WA September Camel Lane Theatre, Carnarvon / Don Russell Performing Arts Centre, Thornlie / Shire of Moora Performing Arts Centre / Esperance Civic Centre / KULCHA Multicultural Arts, Perth / Arts Margaret River
Full itinerary – www.kultour.com.au
The 2010 National Tour of Mandinka Sound is proudly presented by Kultour and developed in partnership with Multicultural Arts Victoria (a Kultour Company Member). The Northern Territory tour is presented by Artback NT: Arts Development and Touring